Holy crap. He's made it to Kenora;
Michael Cole passed through Northwestern Ontario in -35 Celsius weather halfway through one of the most extreme cross-Canada awareness rides ever: a 1995 soft tail custom Harley Davidson motorcycle tour in January to draw attention for diabetes.Wearing electric pants, socks, jacket, gloves and with a heater in his helmet, he began in Newfoundland on New Year’s Day and has already passed through his own backyard.
He nearly missed a ferry in Newfoundland, had to ride through three feet of snow in New Brunswick, and slipped on black ice near the Nova Scotia border when his motorcycle slid out from underneath him.
“That was a close call. It took my breath away. There’s a meaning to that.”
As he rode into Dryden, one of his electric gloves began to malfunction and he was forced to ride in his accompanying vehicle to Kenora. The feeling has yet to return to his middle finger
Somebody needs to get this guy a Skidoo suit.
Winter Harley ride across Canada , Diabetes the Silent Killer
Is He coming through Delise? Better get your smoker revved up.
My brother had a pickup (bulk commodities) in Delise yesterday around 5 pm and then into the night to who knows where.
oops, Delisle...is that better or worse
Man, if he rode through NW Ontario in the last few days he's either insane or a lot braver man than I.
if he rode "in an accompaning vehicle from Dryden to Kenora"
then he isn't really riding a MOTORCYCLE across Canada..............
S.AB and BC should be a snap!
Call me timid, but I wouldn't ride any kind of motorcycle on that part of the Trans-Canada Highway in the winter. He's lucky to be alive. I've travelled it many times in the winter and I've never seen it without snow and ice. Plus it's two lanes with a lot of truck traffic.
Ok, I don't want to be a critic but Dude, the middle finger is too valuable to lose and you catch more flies with honey over the middle finger. :)
I just got an electric jacket and I live in Tucson Az. I got a sunburn while wiring it into the bike and its gotta be 80 here right now.
I couldnt FATHOM riding anywhere in canada for the next few months. Thats a REAL MAN!
and really, watch the middle finger.
Thanks for posting this Kate. I ride myself and have wondered what became of this fellow. Now I know. Maybe I can meet him when he comes thru Sask. I sure as heck wouldn't have ridden the last month here. I can't believe the balls of this guy (some would say something else).
Anyway I hope he does it. It's warmed up today but the winds are crazy and blowing snow near whiteout in some areas in the south.
And here I am worrying about my wife who's on the highway with the Buick!
Skidoo suit? Straight jacket, more like it. A motorcycle on the highway in winter is a serious road hazard.
he didn't get the memo...RANDOM OBAMA FACT:OBAMA WILL WARM THE PLANET,BUT ONLY AFTER HIS INAUGURATION.
Holy hell - let him make it to the God's country of Alberta, been +8 in my realm
More holy cow - just read the D site - he's gonna ride over the mountains in winter.. It will take him months to recover from penisinbelly syndrome.
Even riding in single digit temps will suck the blood out of your extremities. Been there and done that.
Putting a big bike down at any speed at all is a killer.... and the chances of surviving this trip are not good for Cole.
If he does make it in one piece it will be through good luck.
This guy may be hoping to do good... but he's more of a candidate for a Darwin award.
I really wish him luck.
Keep The Round Side down!
To Michael: You are a powerfull source of inspiration and hope for those of us whose lives are affected by diabetes. Ride safe and return home safe.
First of all I must comment on the article It was in the Daily miner in Kenora Just to set the facts straight I don't have a heated helmet but sure would like to know how to get one. I and no-one else has or could ride in 3 feet of snow That was how much it snowed the day before I landed in Sydney NS The only hazards on the road have been cars cutting me off and one pulling a U turn in front of me.....After he cut me off in Toronto . I'm not Crazy or insane I am DETERMINED. I have been a truck driver all my life and know these roads blind folded I lived in Kamloops for some time and rode year round. Last of all luck has nothing to do with it When it becomes to dangerous for myself or any one else I get off the road until its safe. By the way I am in Calgary I do not ride in the cities for safety reasons Regina was really bad., At rush hour or in the dark. I am not one to sit back and watch the world go by waiting for someone else to take care of my troubles. I don't expect people to understand unless they are a diabetic them selves and until you have a life threatening low blood sugars or damaging highs you never will
Thanks for dropping by, Michael. Good luck and ride safe.
When it comes to traction, colder is better. Minus 30 takes the wet film off the icy roads. Easy to say from inside a warm car, right?
I'm wondering if he has studded tires? My nephew used to ice-race motorcycles. It was pretty scary to watch. They hit some fairly high speeds, I don't remember the actual top speed. His tires were dangerous weapons. The riders had to wear kevlar suits. My nephew made his suit from chainsaw safety wear, including bright orange boots. He lined everything with down and wool. While the other guys were warming up between races, he'd lie in the snow and cool down.